WestBengal: As West Bengal heads into the final phase of voting, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking the immediate removal of Ajay Pal Sharma, a senior UP-cadre IPS officer serving as a Police Observer. The petitioner e-filed the Writ Petition (Civil) late Tuesday night (Diary No. EC-SCIN01-21815-2026).
The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, seeks protection of the fundamental right to free and fair elections.The petitioner has accused Sharma, popularly known as the “Singham of UP” for his reputation as an encounter specialist, of abandoning the neutrality expected from an Election Commission observer.
The plea alleges that since taking charge in South 24 Parganas, Sharma has engaged in “acts of intimidation” and “undue influence,” particularly targeting political candidates.It further argues that his conduct has “vitiated the electoral environment” and eroded public confidence in the fairness of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections.
The plea further alleges instances of intimidation, undue influence and bias, which, it claims, have vitiated the level playing field required during elections. It argues that such conduct undermines the fundamental objective of deploying observers, who are expected to act as neutral constitutional functionaries to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Referring to provisions under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the petition states that observers are appointed to independently monitor elections and ensure adherence to democratic norms. Any deviation from this role, it contends, weakens public confidence in the system.
The petitioner has urged the apex court to take cognisance of the matter and issue necessary directions to safeguard the fairness of the ongoing electoral process.
The campaigning for the second and final phase of the assembly elections in Bengal ended as 142 constituencies will go to the polls in the second phase on April 29.
The state has recorded a massive 93.2% voter turnout in the first phase of the elections, a record-breaking figure that has both the TMC and the BJP claiming a decisive lead.
The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies.
The results will be declared on May 4, along with Assam, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Bureau Report
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